A Rumsfeld-era reminder about what causes Terrorism (by Glenn Greenwald)

[dtotire]

A Rumsfeld-era reminder about what causes Terrorism

(updated below - Update II - Update III)

The debate over Afghanistan -- or, more accurately, the multi-pronged effort to pressure Obama into escalating -- is looking increasingly familiar, i.e., like the "debate" over Iraq. The New York Times is publishing articles filled with quotes from anonymous war advocates. Permanent war-justifier Michael O'Hanlon is regularly featured in "news accounts" as he all but blames Obama for increasing combat deaths due to his failure to escalate the moment the military demanded it. The New Republic is churning out pro-war screeds. Every option is on the proverbial table except one: not fighting the war. And there's a widening gap between (a) public opinion (which sees Afghanistan as "turning into another Vietnam" and which opposes more troops, with 49% favoring a full or partial withdrawal) and (b) the virtual unanimity of establishment punditry which, as always, is cheerleading for the war. The only difference is that, with a Democratic President, there seems to be more Democratic and progressive support for this war (though there was, of course, plenty of that for Iraq, too).

more at:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/10/20/terrorism/

[Me.]

1. Deja Vu All Over Again

[Sinti]

2. "Muslims do not 'hate our freedom,' but rather, they hate our policies."

This should be read over and over again until it sinks in.

[yurbud]

3. great piece by Glen Greenwald on what Taliban said to guy they held hostage:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/10/19/rohde/index.html

[Sinti]

4. Thanks, that is a great article. Given the statistics, more people should read it.

I really wish people could understand this thing. The war on the ME didn't start on 9/11. Just imagine if some other country did this to you, how would you feel? People don't respond well to that question, they become very defensive and it's hard to get through that brick wall of self-righteousness. The brainwashing for war is remarkably strong in this nation.

I feel very fortunate to have personally known many Muslims (some very religious) from several ME nations, and having been raised open-minded enough to just listen to what they have to say.

[groovedaddy]

5. i.e. the policy of bombing wedding parties? n.t

[Sinti]

6. Among many other things - some less violent but more insidious n/t

[Demeter]

7. GOP Politicians and Operatives Cause Terrorism

This has been shown time and time again.

Even the liberal terrorism of the 60's was in response to GOP war-mongering. It didn't just spontaneously come into being for no reason.

And the GOP is fascism, no matter what color socks they are wearing on any particular occasion. So terror is their means and their goal: terror drives people to shelter under their terror umbrella, and terror is what they want to inflict upon the world. They sure as hell have no intention of giving anyone who isn't in their club a helping hand.